BioWorld International Correspondent

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Parliament last week endorsed EU plans to triple financial support for research in 2007 to 2013, and at the same time gave its conditional backing to funding for stem cell research.

The Parliament urged a budget of more than €50 billion (US$60 billion) for the entire program, up from €16 billion for the EU's previous research program, which expires this year. In line with overall tightening of the EU's general budget, however, the proposed budget is down from the €72 billion that was proposed by EU officials last year.

Research and development in biotechnology and life sciences could qualify for as much as a quarter of the total funding, although precise figures have yet to be agreed. The support will be available - despite strong opposition from many members of the parliament - for stem cell research. After a colorful debate, a majority voted for a compromise that will allow financing of research using embryonic stem cells under strict conditions.

Research on human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, may be financed, depending on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the member states involved, according to the compromise. For use of human embryonic stem cells, strict licensing and control must be imposed on institutions, organizations and researchers, in accordance with national legislation.

An amendment demanding that financing of research should be limited to embryonic stem cell lines created before Dec. 31, 2003, was rejected, as was another calling for a complete ban on financing embryos and embryonic stem cells for purposes of scientific research.

There must be no financing of research aimed at human cloning for reproductive purposes; research intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings, which could make such changes inheritable; or research intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research or the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer, the compromise said.